Long-time BF Reader David M is always finding interesting 2000s Mini Coopers! This example could be one of the nicest examples he’s found yet. It’s showing just 32k miles and is in great condition inside and out. Whoever optioned it checked almost every box available, including the Exclusive, Lounge, and Sports packages. This combination should prove to be fun and comfortable to drive. You can find David’s listing here on eBay if you want to give it a new home. It’s located in Cape Coral, Florida.
The interior is a highlight here. It’s in fantastic condition, and the Lounge seats are more comfortable than the usual sports seats. They are full leather, wider, equipped with lumbar support, and heated. The rest of the interior is uniquely Mini, with its large center-mounted speedometer. The black lacquer trim looks great and is less flashy than some of the other trim options.
This Cooper S is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder and is rated at 176 horsepower. While not an insane amount of power, it’s a healthy boost over the standard Mini and offers solid performance in such a small and light car. While the Sports package doesn’t add more power, it does include a tuned suspension and an additional gauge on the dash.
These Mini Coopers are very fun to drive, especially in S form. They can be a bit rough riding, but the convertibles are known to be a little less jarring, and putting the top down just adds to the fun factor. This example looks to be in great shape, so if you’ve been looking for a fun convertible with some modern conveniences, this one is worth a closer look!
I have read these are unreliable (as are all Bimmers), is that true? Cute little car, though. Of course, so were most Fiats, but who would want to own one?
I’ve owned two MINI Countrymen S All4. Probably the most reliable and most fun to drive two cars I’ve ever owned, and I’ve owned a lot of cars . Stay away from models with the CVT transmissions.
Built by BMW so they charge gold prices for parts
Some good parts suppliers out there with decent prices and full inventories.
My wife just sold her ‘05 convertible with 85xxc miles on it and it was as reliable and fun to drive as it could be.
You have the Eaton Supercharger then. Supercharged models with the Gratag 6 speed are a blast to drive and very reliable.. I know because I have a 2003 R53
Hi Curt
Like any car they all can be unreliable if not taken care off, That is why best if you buy a low mile car with optional extended warranty.
We also own a 2005 JWC mini 50k miles we owned for since new, the only thing we did was brakes and tires and change the oil every 3k miles runs like it was new.
I own the same car with a manual 6 speed and 41k miles. I have owned the car since 2016 and about 20K miles when I bought it. During my ownership, I have had to replace the high pressure fuel pump @ $2000.00k, and a clutch and flywheel @ $3200.00. These are both well known common problems with Mini’s, so yes, they are unreliable and costly to repair, but they are also one of the funnest cars that I’ve ever driven. For that reason I will continue to throw money at it and keep having a blast on those long winding roads with lots of “S” turns. If you have the money to keep it on the road, the fun factor makes it worth it.
We bought a 2010 Clubman S in about 2016 with 40K miles. My indie BMW/Mini shop said to go to the dealer and they replaced the HPFP for zero$ with a “courtesy” post-warranty. The PO wore out the clutch driving in Silicon Valley traffic, no big surprise. Two other known issues: the “any BMW” thermostat housing released its precious fluid, but parked about 2 miles from one of my indie shops and the chain guides started falling apart. Not much worse than my other used BMWs over the years and way fun to drive.
Those prices must have included the dealers shop costs, I replaced my fuel pump for under $50.00
I’m assuming you’re referring to the in-tank delivery pump and not the HPFP. A decent used HPFP on EBay is $400 alone, and after market HPFP’s are even more. Like many Mini owners, I’ve been down this road and have done the research.
A good friend is a mechanic with much MINI experience. He told me to find a good used one 2002-2006 years. He said those were the BMW motors and after that it was basically a Peugeot motor that was unrepairable. I listened and have two early models both running fine.
My granddaughter turned 16 this year and her request for a car was-” it’s got to be cute”. Choices boiled down to FIAT and Mini. I immediately ruled out the FIAT and began searching for a Mini. Online research said to avoid 2014 and before for a variety of issues and I finally found a 2015 JCW model on COPART. Tossed a low bid and took it home for 575.00 plus fees and trucking to a total of 1500.00. It needed some sheetmetal work on the front and I found one locally and got all the stuff I needed for 1000.00. A couple weeks work, a home garage nose respray, smog, safety, VIN inspection and registration another 500.00 and we were on the road for 3000.00. I drove with her for the 6 months learner permit period with no problems and found the car to be fun and with great visibility and easy for her to park. She got her license and has been driving solo for the past 3 months with no issues. I didn’t realize how quick these JCW models are, and fortunately she is very level headed. They come with run flat tires which are annoyingly noisy, in fact at first I was convinced it had a bad wheel bearing, but research said it was tire noise. Fingers crossed and knocking on wood as I write, but I know that there will be issues as time goes along, and hoping my aging mechanical skills can keep up.
Our ’03 and present ’11 S are primarily grocery getters. Lots of space in the back on the hatchback. The run flats are actually “rough flats”but since there is no spare tire they are nice to have. Adjustable sports package suspension really gives you a race car feel. All in all not much in problems with either one of them except the headliner in the ’03 kept falling down. Major glue solved that problem.
My wife just sold her ‘05 JCW convertible to a very good friend of ours who jumped in it and drove it to Florida in a day and a half. We had NO unexpected repair expenses on it for an 85k mile car. We’re both gonna miss that car. It was a blast to drive!
parts are super expensive, plan on adding a quart of oil every thousand miles, the rubber band automatic transmissions are prone to failure without notice.
Not a real Mini…
Nowhere near as sharp handling.
The big question is…. a Mini with an automatic transmission, Why? The fun of these cars is going through the gears and driving them……. if you don’t know how to drive a stick…. learn!! But……..don’t buy one of these with an automatic. You ARE asking for trouble!!